Improvement in iron fences



vIJNrTED STATES PATENT` y(J3EEICE.

JAMES H. vAN- DOEN AND DWIGHT vAN- DOEN, OF AKRON, OHIO, SAID DWIGHT vAN DOEN ASSIGNOE, EY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T o JAMES H.

VAN DORN.

IMPROVEMENT IN IR'oN Fences.

SPBGCMOD forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 173,144, dated February s, 1876 appiicationmed v Y January 23, 1875.

-the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements In Iron Fences; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to 'the' accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure lis a perspective view of portions of an iron fence constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same 5 and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a support to be hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters of reference in the accompa- DyingI drawings indicate the same parts.

Our invention has yfor its object to simplify and improve the construction of iron fences, so that they shall combinelightness, strength, and cheapness with ornamentation and durability. l

To the accomplishment of this result the invention consists, lirst, in the combination' of an ornamental picketliastening composed of malleable iron with a straight wrought-iron picket,the fastenings being constructed with a socket or step to inclose the ends of the picket, and with depressions or loops to em brace the stringers of the fence. It consists, Secondly, in the construction and combination of various parts, as we will now proceed to describe.

ln the drawings, A represents the straight wrought-iron pickets; B, the bottom and C the top fastenings composed of malleable iron, the top fastening being provided with an ornamental head. The fastenings are each oonstructed with a boss or' socket, c, to receive and inclose the upper and l'oWer ends of the pickets for the purpose of preventing them from dropping down or being pulled out, and

' their inner or proximate edges are formed withadepression, d, into which the side of the picket fits, as shown. care rings or loops formed upon the sides of the top fastenings C, and projecting in an opposite direction from the depressions d, to receive andsupport the upper stringers F of the fence. These loops hold they are formed with side projections or rings y q at or near theirl lower ends, which overlap leach other, and are slotted or perforated for the passage of a U-,shaped bolt, h, by which they are locked together. The bolt is held in place by a nut, t', upon its inner end, as shown.

The intermediate fastenings need not be secured together by bolts; but may bear against each other to preyent them from sliding upon 'the strin gers.

J is an upright brace or post, the top of 'which enters the loop of thel bolt h, and its lower end is secured by a screw-bolt, 7c, and nut l toone end of-a plate or strap, M, mounted upon a stone or sill let into the ground. The opposite endy of the strap 'receives in a similar manner the lower end of l a brace, N,

whose top is pivoted to the post J beneath the loop-bolt h. O O are right-angular plates, one on each side of the upright bracel J immediately above the end of the strap M. They are secured in place by a screw-bolt and nuts, 17,' and are slotted vertically for the passage of such bolt. Their outer ends pass through the lower picket-fastenings B, Where they receive the lower stringers F, and permit them to eX- pandand contract under the inuence of the Weather. By loosening the bolt and nuts p, the Whoie fence is adjustable vertically upon the upright brace, the bolt h sliding freely on the brace, and the slots in the angular plates permitting the latter to move on the screw-bolt.

Thecenter of the strap M is formed with a Slot or elongated openin g to receive an upright screw-bolt, q, set in the base or sill of the fence,

and is held in place by a nut, r, upon the end of the screw-bolt. By this construction the strap is adapted for horizontal adjustment to adjustth'e whole fence laterally -upon its base.v

, The ends of the'strap are also slotted horizontally for the passage of the screw-bolts, lc, by the adjustment of which the lower ends of the braces J N are, together or separately, moved out and in upon the strap to regulate inclination of the fence, and to assist in its "lateral adjustment.

structed as described, in combination with the `straight Wrought-iron pickets A and stringers .F, substantiallyas described, for the purpose specified.

2. The picket-fastenings C B, constructed with the steps or sockets c to receive and in- .close the endsof the straight pickets, to pre- `vent, thelatter from dropping down or being 4pulled out, in combination with the stringers, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. rlhe top picket f'astenings C, constructed .With the step or sockets c, the depressions d,

`and loops e, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. Two upper picket-fastenings, connected together and to a postor brace by means oi the overlapping Wings g and loop-bolt h, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. The adjustable braces J N, in combination with the adjustable base-plate C, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

6. In combination with thepickets, strin gers, and picket-fastenings, we claim the adjustable right-angular plates O, adjustable loop-bolt h, and the upright brace J, for the purpose-of adjusting the fence vertically, substantially as described.

' 7. The base-strap M, constructed with the central and endy slots, and adapted for adjustment upon the base blocks or sills of the frame 'by means of the upright screw-bolt q passing through the central slot to receive the Vnut r, substantially as described, for the purpose specied.

8. The adjustable right-angular plates-.0, in combination With the brace J and the lower stringers and picket-fastenings, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

9. The pickets, stringers, and picket-fastenings, in combination with the adjustable braces J N and the adjustable base-plate M, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

' J. H. 'VAN DOEN.

DWIGHT VAN DORN. Witnesses:

HENRY PURDY, W. W. WARNER. 

